Issue Brief on “A Cold War of Words: Escalating Diplomatic Row between Washington and Moscow”

US-Russia tensions are nothing new but the recent diplomatic row between the two has opened up a new venue of confrontation. Bilateral relations between Washington and Moscow have escalated sharply amid accusations and disagreements over several contentious issues, ranging from military operations in Syria against ISIS, confrontations in Eastern European countries, and cyber breaches.

The recent diplomatic row between the two powers has added more fuel to fire after the US authorities seized some of Russia’s diplomatic premises in the country and expelled its diplomats.[1] The seizure and expulsion took place after the US authorities blamed Russia for its alleged hacking of the US Presidential elections. The two properties that were seized and closed off (to the Russian diplomats) are located in New York and Maryland and 35 Russian diplomats were declared persona non grata and expelled from the US.[2]